I am in the process of cleaning and adjusting a Maytag 142 washer and am having a heck of a time trying to remove the filter from the agitator. I believe the filter probably hasn't been removed in 30+ years and is frozen in lime and caked detergent. Has anyone had this issue before or does anyone have some suggestions on how to get the filter out? I'm stumped at this point and certainly don't want to use too much force as I may break the agitator.
Removing a Stuck Maytag 142 Filter
- Thread starter Bob331
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e2l-arry
Well-known member
Can you get the agitator out?
If you can remove the agitator from the machine I'd place it upside down in a bucket or a narrow as a container I could find and soak the top w/filter in a strong solution of CLR or Lime-A-Way overnight. They try running it under hot water and see if it will then come apart.
If you can remove the agitator from the machine I'd place it upside down in a bucket or a narrow as a container I could find and soak the top w/filter in a strong solution of CLR or Lime-A-Way overnight. They try running it under hot water and see if it will then come apart.
I would fill the tub with boiling (or near boiling) water, let sit for 10-15 minutes and then gently, but firmly, try to extract the filter.
CLR will probably eat away at the shiny coating of the Bakelite agitator and make it appear duller than it already is. Boiling or near boiling water is probably best. Let it sit for 30 minutes or so before attempting anything. You may even get lucky and have the agitator pop off after its hot bath.
While the water is working its magic, it would be a good time to look for leaks around the stem/boot seal, tub bearing, tub bolts, and pump hoses.
While the water is working its magic, it would be a good time to look for leaks around the stem/boot seal, tub bearing, tub bolts, and pump hoses.
My A700 came with a large turquoise agitator that had what was left of the original metal lint filter assembly sitting inside the barrel. The top of it was gone and you can see where all the little spot welds that held it in place were ripped out, probably due to someone pulling on it too hard when it was good and stuck. It seems to me that after letting things soak for a while as everyone is suggesting, if it still won't budge easily, a couple of nice pointy awls could be slipped through the oval shaped holes on opposite sides of the agitator barrel and stuck into the holes in the lint filter. Then you should be able to carefully pry the lint filter up by using the bottom edges of the oval shaped slots in the barrel as a fulcrum. Just be careful not to pry so hard that you risk damaging anything.
Would a strap wrench work?
maytaga806
Well-known member
well first of all, i would take the agitator out. then maybe soak it in boiling water for an hour then see what happends. remeber, always clean the lint filter after each load! then you wont have probelms!
Success
Got it out! I used boiling hot water with about a pint of CLR. It only soaked for about an hour as the tub drain hose (hose from the tub to the pump) developed a leak. Unfortunately, I broke a pie shaped piece of the agitator off. Very strong glue would probably do the trick. Does anyone know if you can still get a tub to pump hose new? If not, an improvise would work I imagine. Also, has anyone ever glued an agitator and had success?
Got it out! I used boiling hot water with about a pint of CLR. It only soaked for about an hour as the tub drain hose (hose from the tub to the pump) developed a leak. Unfortunately, I broke a pie shaped piece of the agitator off. Very strong glue would probably do the trick. Does anyone know if you can still get a tub to pump hose new? If not, an improvise would work I imagine. Also, has anyone ever glued an agitator and had success?
steve1-18
New member
Check auto supply stores. Might have a flexible radiator hose that will work.
I wouldn't call breaking the agitator a success. I recently picked up an old A502 in Santa Monica that was listed in the Craigslist "free" section. My thought was to take its Bakelite agitator out for use in my A700, replace it with a turquoise Powerfin, and then give it to someone else. It was very stuck, and it quickly became apparent that the force required to remove it would risk breaking it. So I left it in the machine when I passed it on. Those Bakelite agitators are extremely rare. What a tragedy to break one over a lint filter assembly. Lint filters turn up pretty regularly, but Bakelite agitators? Good luck finding one of those. And as for gluing it, I've never found a glue that will work worth a darn on Bakelite, but maybe someone else has an idea. It would be fantastic if they do and you can save it. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you on that one.
The tub to pump hose on the 142(pn 211107) is another story. It's the same as the one used on the A700 and cross references to the hose used on the A806 and later. You'll have no trouble finding that for around twenty dollars and less depending on how well you look around.
The tub to pump hose on the 142(pn 211107) is another story. It's the same as the one used on the A700 and cross references to the hose used on the A806 and later. You'll have no trouble finding that for around twenty dollars and less depending on how well you look around.
I should probably clarify a bit. The agitator was not broken due to the filter removal. The piece that broke is at the bottom of the agitator where a crack was already present. I was doing some cleaning at the bottom and this piece of the agitator gave way, which leads me to believe it probably would have broken off on its own soon. I have read on some antique radio restoration forums that two part apoxy with fiber glass mesh seems to work well on bakelite. I'll try this and see. Otherwise, I may have to go with the power fin. Thanks for all the help so far, I really appreciate it!
maytaga806
Well-known member
you can find new agitators on ebay. But i havent seen any bakalite agitators anywhere for sale. they only have the power fin agitators
